Cigar-vending machine.



R. 0. HOFFMAN.

CIGAR VENDlNG MACHINE.

APPucATloN FILED Juni-22. 1914.

1,134,742. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. 0. HOFFMAN.

CIGAR VENDIN'G MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN E|Len1uN22,1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C) @House/13o n. o. HOFFMAN.

cac/m vENmNe MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1914.

191 34,742. v Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE NDRRIS PETERS cn PHnTrLLlHo.. WASHINGIUN.

R. O. HOFFMAN.

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1914. l 1,134,742.. Patented. Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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ROBERT 0. HOFFMAN, OF FENSACOLA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD 'IOiALEX-l ANDER LISCHKOFF' AND ONE-THIRD TO THOS. E. BIRD, BOTH 0F PENSACOLA,

FLORIDA.

CIGAR-VENDING MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application ined .Tune a2, 1914, seria1n0.s4e,547. Y

chines, and to an improved cigar vending machine in particular, and as an object of the invention it is the aim to provide a machine of this nature comprising efcient and practical features of construction.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of a cylindrical drum having a plurality of divisions for the 'reception of cigars, and provided with a ribbon extending about the drum Aover the divisions to hold the cigars therein, and having one end connected to the drum, and the other end to a spring tensioned roll, in combination with a coin controlled mechanism including a pivoted lever adapted to be operated by a coin to operate the lever (which in turn coacts with a ratchet disk of the drum) to operate the drumV intermittently by the action of the spring roll to discharge a cigar.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

p In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the improved cigar vending machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 just immediately adjacent one side of the casing, in order to illustrate the coin slot and the coin controlcigars.

Referring more particularly to the draw- Y ing the spring tensioned roller to 'which the ribbon of the drum is connected.- Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the construction of the spring tensioned roller and the clamping means for the ribbon. Figz is aview in elevation of the idle roll over which the'ribbon passes. Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating the connection between the ribbon and the drum. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailiview of a drum showing a plurality of divisions, in each one of which a package of cigars may be arranged. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the; package of ings V'1 designates a casing having a suitable base 2, and in the lower portion Vof which a suitable coin drawer or box 3 is arranged slidably. Mounted in bearings of the casing is a transverse shaft 4, on which a cylindrical drum 5 is mounted, and to oneside of the drum a ratchet disk 7 is secured as shown at 8. The teeth of the ratchet disk vare designated by the numeral 9, and extend laterally of the disk. rlhe drum on its periphery is provided with a plurality of transversely disposed divisions 10, for the reception of cigars 11, each cigar having ya paper covering or shield 12, in order to protect the same. rlhese divisions are constructed byrformingy convolutions 11av in a sheet metal plate 12a, which is secured at 13 1 to the end pieces 14 of the drum. Three or four or said convolutions are omitted, Vas

shown at 14, thereby forminga blank space 15 in the sheet metal plate, to which an archedjplate'16 is secured, as shown at 17. One edge of the arch of said plate is provided with'teeth 18. Mounted in bearings of the casing is a rod 19, on which a roller V2() is loosely mounted between the collars 21. A coil spring 22 is also arranged on the rod 19 having one end connected to one side ofV the casing, and its other end connected to the roller 20, thereby springtensioning said roller. 'One end Aof the roller 2O is constructed with a segmental eX- tension 24, to which a lever clamp 25 is pivoted as shown at 26, and acting as a clamp for holding one end of a ribbon, band or tape 27 in a groove 28 of the roller. The free end of the lever clamp is detachably secured to one end of the roller 20 bythe thumb screw 29. The lever clamp 25 is constructed with an angular end 31 to engage over the beveled flange 32 of the roller, thereby more securely holding the lever clamp in said groove 28. The tape or band 27 passes over an idle roll 32 of the transverse rod 33, there being collars to prevent movement of the roller axially on the rod. The other end of the band, ribbon or tape is folded as shown at 34 and engages the teeth 18 of the plate 16, the folded portion of the tape being under the arch of said plate 16.

When the drum has all of its divisions 'filled with cigars, the tape or band extends completely about said drum, thereby holding the cigars in place, and owing to the roller 20 being spring tensioned, the drum is held against the action of said spring by the lever 36 pivoted at 37 to a ledge 38 of the interior of the casing. This lever 36 is provided with lateral portions l() and ll1 'at its ends, each of which portions terminate in a beveled tooth 42. rlhe tooth of the lateral portion a() normally engages the teeth at one side of the disk of the drum, so as to hold the drum with the ribbon or band wound thereabout against the action of the spring of the roller 20. This lever 36 is retained in such position by means of the spring 45 connected to the end of the lever having the lateral portion al. A coin chute a6 is arranged in the casing having a coin entrance mouth 4:7 and a discharge end i8 terminating above the coin drawer or box 3. This coin chute 46 is provided with a transverse slot 50 extending into which is the nose 5l of the coin holding lateral projection 52, which is carried by the lever 36 adjacent the end having the lateral portion 4l. The coin chute is also provided with an elongated cutaway portion 53. Mounted in a guide 511- upon the interior of one of the sides of the casing is a reciprocating push plunger 55, the tension of the leaf spring 56 of which holds the push plunger with its knob 58 protruding beyond the casing. The lower end of the push plunger is provided with a lateral arm 60, and when the push plunger is forced downwardly, and owing to the same being disposed angularly or inclined toward a coin slot, the lateral arm will engage the coin 62, which in turn pushes against the nose of said lateral projection, and operates the tooth of the lateral portion il of the lever portion 36 toward the ratchet teeth of the disk, thereby releasing the tooth of the lateral portion 40 from the teeth of the opposite side of the disk, which will permit the drum to partially rotate, owing to the action of the spring of the roller 20. Just so soon as the coin passes the nose of said lateral projection and drops into the coin box or drawer 3, the spring of the lever 36 throws the tooth `of the lateral portion 40 back in engagenient with the teeth of said disk, thereby preventing further movement of the drum, until another coin is dropped into said chute. The teeth of the disk of the drum are so arranged relative to the beveled teeth of said lateral portions l0 and ll of said lever 36, so that when a coin is substantially one-half past the nose of saidnlateral projection, the tooth of the lateral portion ell will be in engagement with one of the teeth of said disk, in which case the drum will have moved substantially one-half the distance between two of the teeth (adjacent the lateral portions 40) of the disk. As soon as thecoin fully passes the nose of said lateral projection, the tooth of the lateral portion Lili disengages the tooth of the disk, and owing to the tension of the spring of thelever 36, the tooth of the portions 4:0 engages the next tooth of said disk, thereby in this manner the drum makes a full partial revoluble movement and discharges a cigar through the opening 68 of the transparent hood 69 into the cigar tray 70 where it may be removed. The transparent hood 69 is hinged at 72, to the other portions of the hood 73, which is not transparent. A partition 74 extends downwardly toward the ledge 3S, from where the transparent hood is hinged, thereby obscuring the coin controlled mechanism from view. The transparent hood is provided with a suitable lock, as indicated at 75, whereas the drawer or box 3 is provided with a lock 76.

ln Fig. 9 a package of cigars is illustrated and designated by the numeral 77. The individual cigars of such packages may be used in each one of the divisions l0 of the drum, or as shown in Fig. 8, the divisions may be filled with packages such as shown in Fig. 9.

Where the ribbon or tape or band is attached to the drum the word Empty is printed, and when this word reaches a location opposite the opening in the hood, it is to be understood that all the cigars have been vended.

rEhe invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is A coin controlled escapement device com prising in combination with a ratchet disk, sprinO tensioned means therefor, a spring tensioned lever having a tooth at each end, one of said teeth of the lever being normally in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet disk to hold the same against the action of the spring tensioned means, a coin chute, a supporting frame to which said lever is pivoted, a projection carried by the lever and extending laterally and partially transversely of the coin chute, said frame having guides, a reciprocating spring tensioned plunger mounted in said guides and having its lower portion bent laterally, said plunger being arranged so that the lateral ls@ mittently coperate with the teeth of the disk to allow the disk to make a partial y revoluble movement under the action of the 1.0

spring tensioned means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.v e

y ROBERT O. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

S. J. WELCH, l i' J. P. MCHUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents eah, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 11C. 

